Wireless speech recognition

ABSTRACT

A portable wireless-enabled system includes an input transducer (for example, a microphone), an output transducer (for example, a speaker) and a wireless transceiver system. Also included, is a memory having a programmable user speech profile. A processor system controls operation of the input transducer, the output transducer, the wireless transceiver system and the memory.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Reference is made to co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______, filed ______, entitled “WIRELESS SPEECHRECOGNITION,” the content of which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND

While great progress has been made in the development of communicationsystems, only recently with the advent of Bluetooth and similar openspecification technologies have developers been given the freedom todesign, short range, wireless devices that can connect to a variety ofdifferent networks and systems while offering worldwide compatibility.One type of device resulting from the development of these technologiesis a wireless headset that can connect to any similarly enabled deviceor system. When used with a cellular phone, for example, that isenabled/adapted for use with one of these technologies (for example,Bluetooth), the user of such a headset is able to talk freely,unencumbered by wires or cables, while taking advantage of the manybenefits of the cellular phone. However, current wireless headsetsprovide very limited, if any, speech recognition functionality, althoughspeech recognition is a natural interface for such wireless devices.

The discussion above is merely provided for general backgroundinformation and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining thescope of the claimed subject matter.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementationsthat solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

The present embodiments relate to a portable wireless-enabled systemthat is capable of interacting with a speech recognition (SR)-enabledpersonal computer. Embodiments of the portable wireless-enabled systeminclude an input transducer (for example, a microphone), an outputtransducer (for example, a speaker) and a wireless transceiver system.Also included, is a memory having a programmable user SR profile. Aprocessor system controls operation of the input transducer, the outputtransducer, the wireless transceiver system and the memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one illustrative computing environment withwhich the present embodiments can interact.

FIGS. 2-7 are block diagrams that illustrate examples of differentportable wireless-enabled systems in accordance with the presentembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present embodiments deal with portable systems that enable users towirelessly interact via voice with devices/environments that have speechrecognition (SR) capabilities. However, before describing the presentembodiments in greater detail, one illustrative environment with whichthe present embodiments can interact will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable computing system environment100 with which the present embodiments can interact. The same referencenumerals are used in the various figures to represent the same orsimilar elements. The computing system environment 100 is only oneexample of a suitable computing environment and is not intended tosuggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of thepresent embodiments. Neither should the computing environment 100 beinterpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any oneor combination of components illustrated in the exemplary environment100.

The present embodiments can interact with numerous other general purposeor special purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for interaction with the presentembodiments include, but are not limited to, desktop personal computers(PCs), server computers, hand-held or laptop PCs, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers,telephony systems, distributed computing environments that include anyof the above systems or devices, and the like.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system with which the presentembodiments can interact includes a general-purpose computing device inthe form of a computer 110. Components of computer 110 may include, butare not limited to, a processing unit 120, a system memory 130, and asystem bus 121 that couples various system components including thesystem memory to the processing unit 120. The system bus 121 may be anyof several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memorycontroller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofbus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, sucharchitectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, MicroChannel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus.

Computer 110 typically includes a variety of computer readable media.Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby computer 110 and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media,removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium which can be used to store the desired informationand which can be accessed by computer 110. Communication media typicallyembodies computer readable instructions, data structures, programmodules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier waveor other transport mechanism and includes any information deliverymedia. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one ormore of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encodeinformation in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,communication media includes wired media such as a wired network ordirect-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

The system memory 130 includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) 131and random access memory (RAM) 132. A basic input/output system 133(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer informationbetween elements within computer 110, such as during start-up, istypically stored in ROM 131. RAM 132 typically contains data and/orprogram modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presentlybeing operated on by processing unit 120. By way of example, and notlimitation, FIG. 1 illustrates operating system 134, applicationprograms 135, other program modules 136, and program data 137.

The computer 110 may also include other removable/non-removablevolatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 141 that reads from or writes tonon-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive 151that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk 152,and an optical disk drive 155 that reads from or writes to a removable,nonvolatile optical disk 156 such as a CD ROM or other optical media.Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storagemedia that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include,but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards,digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solidstate ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive 141 is typically connectedto the system bus 121 through a non-removable memory interface such asinterface 140, and magnetic disk drive 151 and optical disk drive 155are typically connected to the system bus 121 by a removable memoryinterface, such as interface 150.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed aboveand illustrated in FIG. 1, provide storage of computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputer 110. In FIG. 1, for example, hard disk drive 141 is illustratedas storing operating system 144, application programs 145, other programmodules 146, and program data 147. Note that these components can eitherbe the same as or different from operating system 134, applicationprograms 135, other program modules 136, and program data 137. Operatingsystem 144, application programs 145, other program modules 146, andprogram data 147 are given different numbers here to illustrate that, ata minimum, they are different copies. Application programs 135 and/or145 include a speech recognition engine/system.

A user may enter commands and information into the computer 110 throughinput devices such as a keyboard 162, a microphone 163, and a pointingdevice 161, such as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices(not shown) may include a joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner,or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to theprocessing unit 120 through a user input interface 160 that is coupledto the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and busstructures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus(USB). A monitor 191 or other type of display device is also connectedto the system bus 121 via an interface, such as a video interface 190.In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheraloutput devices such as speakers 197 and printer 196, which may beconnected through an output peripheral interface 195.

The computer 110 is operated in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer180. The remote computer 180 may be a desktop PC, a laptop PC, ahand-held device, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device orother common network node, and typically includes many or all of theelements described above relative to the computer 110. The logicalconnections depicted in FIG. 1 include a local area network (LAN) 171and a wide area network (WAN) 173, but may also include other networks.Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-widecomputer networks, intranets and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 110 is connectedto the LAN 171 through a network interface or adapter 170. When used ina WAN networking environment, the computer 110 typically includes amodem 172 or other means for establishing communications over the WAN173, such as the Internet. The modem 172, which may be internal orexternal, may be connected to the system bus 121 via the user inputinterface 160, or other appropriate mechanism. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 110, orportions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. Byway of example, and not limitation, FIG. 1 illustrates remoteapplication programs 185 as residing on remote computer 180. It will beappreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and othermeans of establishing a communications link between the computers may beused.

It should be noted that FIG. 1 illustrates only one computingenvironment with which the present embodiments can interact. In general,the present embodiments can interact with a number of different PCs suchas laptop PCs, desktop PCs, mobile PCs, mobile phones, automotive PCsand media centers.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example portablewireless-enabled system 200, which can interact with a SR-enabled PC, inaccordance with the present embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 2,system 200 includes an input transducer (for example, a microphone) 202,an output transducer (for example, a speaker) 204, a memory 206, whichincludes a programmable user SR profile, a wireless transceiver system208, a processor system 210 and a speech recognition (SR) on/off button212. SR on/off button 212 is optional and, in general, any suitabletechnique for turning on/off power, or different functions, of system200 can be used. Embodiments of system 200 are configured for low powerconsumption and can include, for example, rechargeable batteries with arelatively long use life. In some of the present embodiments, a case forsystem 200 can serve a charger for its rechargeable batteries. Selectionof a particular type of power supply system (not shown) is also based ona desired size/form factor and other design aspects of system 200.

In some of the present embodiments, such as the embodiments shown inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7 that are described further below, the portablewireless-enabled system is a single wearable unit that is capable ofcommunicating, via a wireless network (such as a Bluetooth wirelessnetwork or any other suitable wireless network currently knows ordeveloped in future), with a desktop computer, a laptop computer, apersonal digital assistant, a cellular phone, or other device capable ofcommunicating with the wireless network. In other embodiments, such asthose shown in FIGS. 3-1, 3-2 and 4 which are discussed further below,components of the wireless-enabled system are divided into multiplegroups (for example, two groups) to form multiple fundamental pieces(for example, two fundamental pieces as shown in FIGS. 3-1, 3-2 and 4)that are able to communicate between each other wirelessly. In suchembodiments, one of the fundamental pieces can be coupled non-wirelesslyto a PC.

In general, a SR-enabled PC (such as 214), with which system 200 cancommunicate, can utilize the programmable user SR profile in memory 206to provide relatively accurate recognition of speech signals that arewirelessly transmitted from system 200. Synchronization of theprogrammable user SR profile with the SR-enabled PC can be accomplishedwith the help of software that is capable of automatically carrying outthe synchronization. This software can be included in memory 206 alongwith the programmable user speech profile. In some of the presentembodiments, memory 206 is non-volatile and therefore its contents arenot lost when system 200 is turned off. Details of more specificembodiments of system 200 are provided below in connection with FIGS.3-7.

FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2 are simplified block diagrams of an example portablewireless-enabled system 300, which is a more specific configuration ofsystem 100. In general, system 300 includes, as its primary components,a headset 302 and a wireless adapter 304. Headset 302 is capable ofwirelessly communicating with adapter 304 via wireless communicationlink 305 and therefore, when adapter 304 is attached to a non-wirelessenabled PC (such as 306), speech signals can be transferred from headset302 to PC 306 via adapter 304. It should be noted that, in system 300,wireless transceiver system 208 and processor system 210 (which are bothalso shown in FIG. 2) are each two-piece systems in FIG. 3.

As can be seen in FIG. 3-1, headset 302 includes input transducer 202,output transducer 204, a first wireless transceiver 308-1 (of wirelesstransceiver system 208), a first processor 310-1 (of processor system210) and SR on/off button 212. Wireless adapter 304 includes memory 206,a second wireless transceiver 308-1 (of wireless transceiver system 208)and a second processor 310-1 (of processor system 210). As notedearlier, memory 206 includes a programmable user SR profile.Communication between headset 302 and wireless adapter 304 takes placewith the help of first wireless transceiver 308-1 and second wirelesstransceiver 308-2. First processor 310-1 controls operation ofcomponents 202, 204, 308-1 and 212 of headset 302 and second processor310-2 controls operation of components 206 and 308-2 of wireless adapter304.

In general, system 300 enables a user to wirelessly interact via voicewith any compatible SR-enabled PC (such as 306). System 300 includes anumber of stored resources that provide for such interaction. Inaddition to the user SR profile, stored resources include drivers thatprovide an interface between a PC and system, 300, secure user data andresources, “voice in/voice out” applications (VUI) that can provide, forexample, real-time driving directions, meetings notifications, naturalassistance and/or interactions with devices/appliances such as homeentertainment centers, etc. Different methods of using headset 302 andwireless adapter 304 to provide a SR “portable user experience” aredescribed below.

In one method of using system 300, a first time user can log in to adesktop PC, for example, and plug connector 307 of wireless adapter 304into the PC's USB port (or any other suitable computer port/slot). Ifsuitably configured, the PC automatically detects headset 302 andlaunches a SR configuration application for a first time userexperience. The user can now configure SR settings and can proceed totake an interactive tutorial. A programmable user speech recognitionprofile that includes results from the interactive tutorial and thechosen SR settings is produced. A copy of the programmable SR profile isstored in memory 206. It should be noted that programmable user SRprofile may be blank (or may include an initial speech profile which istuned for a particular embodiment of headset 302 by any speaker) beforefirst use of system 300. After the interactive tutorial, the user isready to carry out relatively complex tasks, such as word processing,using SR.

For example, the user can enable SR by pressing SR on/off button 212, onheadset 302, and then utter “Open Word Processing Software,” forexample. In response, a new document window is opened on the PC. Theuser can then begin dictating words, which get inserted into thedocument. The user can disable SR at any time by pressing SR on/offbutton 212 on headset 302. Of course, the user can re-enable SR bypressing the same button. The user can save a draft document in memory206 and then remove adapter 304 from the computer port of the desktopPC. It should be noted that the programmable user SR profile adjusts tothe manner in which the user pronounces words and therefore memory 206can be updated with a current copy of the programmable user SR profilewhen the draft document is saved in memory 206, for example.

At a later time, the user can plug wireless adapter 304 into a computerport (for example, a USB port or any other suitable port currently knownor developed in future) of a SR-enabled laptop PC, for example, and turnwireless headset 302 on. A SR user interface launches and confirms thatSR is enabled. This is followed by a transfer of the programmable userSR profile to the laptop PC. The user can then press SR on/off button212 on headset 302 and substantially immediately begin editing the draftdocument.

In another method of using system 300, a user can wear headset 302, turnit on, and communicate with a compatible cellular telephone and/or acompatible automobile computer.

For example, when using headset 302 with a “smart” cellular telephone,the user can press button 212 and say “Where's my next meeting?,” forexample. The cellular telephone can respond, through output transducer204 of headset 302, “Your next meeting is at campus number 1, Building17, office 3075,” for example.

When the user's automobile is started, the cellular telephone andheadset 302 can automatically establish a network connection with theautomobile's central computer via a wireless hub (for example, aBluetooth hub). The wireless hub can be built into wireless adapter 302.The user can be notified of a successful connection with theautomobile's central computer via a recognizable herald, which the usercan hear through output transducer 204 of headset 302.

To customize a driving experience, the user can say, for example, “Startlistening. Set the temperature to 70 degrees and tune into WXYZ.” Inresponse, the automobile's temperature and radio settings cansubstantially immediately be adjusted. If the cellular telephone hastraffic monitoring software, the user can begin interacting with it bysaying, for example, “Start listening. How's traffic on route 520?”Traffic updates can then be provided to the user from the cellulartelephone through output transducer 204 of headset 302.

If the user has to make a call to inform a superior of a delay caused bytraffic, for example, the automobile radio's volume is muted as soon asthe call goes through. Once the conversation is completed, theautomobile radio's volume setting is automatically restored to itsoriginal state.

In general, system 300 provides with an un-tethered manner ofinteracting with several different compatible devices. Other embodimentsof the portable wireless-enabled system that operate in a manner similarto system 300 are described below in connection with FIGS. 4-7.

FIG. 4 shows a portable wireless-enabled system 400, which is similar tosystem 300 shown in FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2. However, unlike wireless headset302 of FIGS. 3, wireless headset 402 of system 400 (FIG. 4) has embeddedmemory capacity (includes memory 206, which includes a programmable userSR profile and can include other program code, user data, etc). Wirelessadapter 404, which does not include memory 206, connects non-wirelesslyto a PC 306 in a manner similar to wireless adapter 304 of FIGS. 3-1 and3-2. In this embodiment, headset 402 can communicate speech signals toPC 306 via wireless adapter 404 and also provide the programmable userSR profile to PC 306 via wireless adapter 404. Of course, due to thedifference in location of memory 206 between FIG. 3-1 and FIG. 4,processors 410-1 and 410-2 (FIG. 4) are configured differently formprocessors 310-1 and 310-2 (FIG. 3). In general, systems 300 and 400operate in a similar manner and the differences between the systems aresubstantially transparent to a user.

FIG. 5 shows a portable wireless-enabled system 500, which, in general,is similar to system 300 (FIGS. 3-1 and 3-2) and system 400 (FIG. 4).However, as can be seen in FIG. 5, system 500 is a one-piece unit, withthe single piece being a headset 502. In system 500, wirelesstransceiver system 208 includes a single wireless transceiver 504 andprocessor system 210 includes a single processor 506. All components ofsystem 500 are within headset 502. Headset 502 cannot be plugged in to acomputer port of a PC, for example, and therefore can communicate onlywith a compatible wireless-enabled PC (such as 508). Other than beingunsuitable for direct use with a non-wireless enabled PC, system 500, ingeneral, operates in a manner similar to that of systems 300 and 400that were described earlier. However, as shown in FIG. 6, system 500 cancommunicate with a non-wirelessly-enabled PC 306 via a wireless-enabledPC 508. Here, wireless-enabled PC 508 provides communication in a mannersimilar to wireless adapter 404 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of system 500, which is configured tocommunicate with multiple wireless-enabled PCs (PC 1 designated byreference numeral 508-1 and PC N designated by reference numeral 508-2).In essence, the embodiment of FIG. 7 is a wireless headset with embeddedmemory capacity connecting to multiple speech-enabled PCs that arewireless-enabled.

In general, the above-described portable wireless systems provide userswith a hands-free method for interacting with compatible devices. Thesystems provide users with an un-tethered manner of interacting with SRapplications. Further, as discussed above, the present embodimentsprovide users with an instantaneous and intuitive manner of launching,setting up, learning, using, synchronizing, and porting their SR userexperience to any compatible device.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims. Although the embodiments ofFIGS. 5, 6 and 7 include wireless headsets with an embedded programmableuser SR profile, the present embodiments, in general, also encompass anyheadset (wireless or non-wireless) with an embedded programmable user SRprofile.

1. A portable wireless-enabled system comprising: an input transducer; awireless transceiver system; a memory having a programmable user speechrecognition (SR) profile; and a processor system configured to controloperation of the input transducer, the output transducer, the wirelesstransceiver system and the memory.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein theinput transducer is a microphone.
 3. The system of claim 1 and furthercomprising an output transducer.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein theoutput transducer is a speaker.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein theinput transducer, the wireless transceiver system, the memory having theprogrammable user SR profile and the processor system are a part of aheadset.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the headset further comprisesa SR on/off button to enable/disable communication of speech signalsfrom the headset to a SR application running on a personal computer(PC).
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the input transducer, a firstwireless transceiver of the wireless transceiver system and a firstprocessor of the processor system are a part of a headset, and wherein asecond wireless transceiver of the wireless transceiver system, thememory having the programmable user SR profile and a second processorsystem of the processor system are a part of a wireless adapter.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7 wherein the wireless adapter is configured to pluginto a computer port of a PC.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the inputtransducer, a first wireless transceiver of the wireless transceiversystem, the memory having the programmable user SR profile and a firstprocessor of the processor system are a part of a headset, and wherein asecond wireless transceiver of the wireless transceiver system and asecond processor of the processor system are a part of a wirelessadapter.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the wireless adapter isconfigured to plug into a computer port of a PC.
 11. The system of claim5 wherein the headset is configured to communicate with a non-wirelessenabled PC via a wireless-enabled PC that is coupled the non-wirelessenabled PC.
 12. The system of claim 5 wherein the headset is configuredto communicate via a wireless communication link with multiplewireless-enabled PCs.
 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory isnon-volatile.
 14. A wireless adapter comprising: a wireless transceiver;a memory having a programmable user SR profile; and a processor systemconfigured to control the wireless transceiver and the memory.
 15. Theadapter of claim 14 wherein the wireless transceiver is configured toreceive speech signals from a headset via a wireless communication link.16. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the memory is non-volatile.
 17. Theadapter of claim 14 and further comprising a connector configured toplug into a computer port of a PC.
 18. The adapter of claim 14 whereinthe processor is configured to transfer the programmable user SR profileto a PC upon connection of the wireless adapter to the PC.
 19. A headsetcomprising: a memory having a programmable user SR profile; and aprocessor configured to control operation of the memory.
 20. The headsetof claim 19 wherein the programmable user SR profile in the memory canbe accessed by a PC that the headset is connected to.